profile

Ice gargoyles, serac mazes and legendary epics.... Few mountains haunt their climbers as much as Robson does. Since the early twentieth century, aspirants have struggled up the highest point of the Canadian Rockies; relatively few succeed. Barry Blanchard looks behind the mists, while Don Gordon, Ron Perla, Tom Spencer, Pat Callis, Jim Logan and Steve House contribute more gothic tales of the "King." Barry Blanchard

features

Many young East Coast climbers migrate West for the "real mountains." Colorado author Majka Burhardt tries the opposite direction. Exploring classic New England icefalls and learning from hard-core locals, she discovers that sometimes you have to go small to "go big." Majka Burhardt

When his mother dies after a long illness, a young Cascades alpinist realizes he has sacrificed too much for his dreams. In search of healing, he ventures into the Alaskan wild. Among the Stikine Icefield's unclimbed peaks—and through the friendship of his partner, Max Hasson—Jens Holsten finds his way back home. Jens Holsten